Systems and methods for enforcing wireless regulatory compliance

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to systems and methods for verifying that a device is using its Wi-Fi circuitry in compliance with the regulations governing the location in which the device is located. Embodiments discussed herein can verify the location using location verification tools that evaluate locally ascertainable factors that contribute to a probability determination of the device&#39;s location. Locally ascertainable factors include information that be gleaned from the surroundings of the device. The surroundings or environment in which the device resides may provide clues as to whether the device is located in a particular regulatory domain.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This patent specification relates to systems and methods for selectivelyenabling wireless communication channels. More particularly, thisspecification relates to techniques for selectively enabling wirelesscommunication channels for Wi-Fi devices.

BACKGROUND

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects ofart that may be related to various aspects of the present techniques,which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed tobe helpful in providing the reader with background information tofacilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the presentdisclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statementsare to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

Many countries in the world have allocated their own radio spectrum andhave regulated the use of that spectrum, leading to a potentialpatchwork of large and divergent wireless compliance challenges. Thispatchwork leads to both technical and logistical challenges forcompanies that design, manufacture and sell world-ready wireless-enabledproducts with the fewest number of customized, region-specific models orSKUs.

SUMMARY

A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. Itshould be understood that these aspects are presented merely to providethe reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and thatthese aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may notbe set forth below.

This disclosure relates to systems and methods for verifying that adevice is using its Wi-Fi circuitry in compliance with the regulationsgoverning the location in which the device is located. Embodimentsdiscussed herein can verify the location using location verificationtools that evaluate locally ascertainable factors that contribute to aprobability determination of the device's location. Locallyascertainable factors include information that be gleaned from thesurroundings of the device. The surroundings or environment in which thedevice resides may provide clues as to whether the device is located ina particular regulatory domain.

In one embodiment, a method for enforcing wireless regulatory compliancefor a wirelessly enabled thermostat is provided. The method includesreceiving a user designated selection of a location of the thermostat,initially configuring the thermostat to operate according to a first setof wireless communication channels based on the user designatedlocation, verifying the user designated location by analyzing at leastone line power characteristic, if the user designated location isverified, enabling the thermostat to operate according to the first set,and if the user designated location is not verified, re-configuring thethermostat to operate according to a second set of wirelesscommunication channels.

In another embodiment, a method for enforcing wireless regulatorycompliance for a home network device is provided. The method includesmaking an initial compliance determination on how to configure wirelesscommunication circuitry to operate according to a location basedwireless regulation, verifying whether the initial compliancedetermination is reasonably accurate by validating the location of thedevice using at least one location verification tool, continue operatingthe wireless communications circuitry according to the initialcompliance determination in response to a verified initial compliancedetermination, and re-configuring the wireless communications circuitryto operate according to a different regulatory compliance scheme inresponse to a non-verified initial compliance determination.

In yet another embodiment, a thermostat is provided that includeswireless communications circuitry for communicating according to an802.11 protocol, a compliance database including a listing of aplurality of country specific wireless regulations for the 802.11protocol, a location verification module operative to use at least onelocation verification tool to assess a location of the thermostat, and acontrol unit operative to control the thermostat. The thermostat isfurther operative to select an initial country specific wirelessregulation, use the location verification module to determine a locationof the thermostat, determine whether the location invalidates theselected initial country specific wireless regulation, configure thewireless communications circuitry to operate according to the selectedinitial country specific wireless regulation in response to anon-invalidated determination, and re-configuring the wirelesscommunications circuitry to operate according to a different countryspecific wireless regulation in response to an invalidateddetermination.

Various refinements of the features noted above may be used in relationto various aspects of the present disclosure. Further features may alsobe incorporated in these various aspects as well. These refinements andadditional features may be used individually or in any combination. Forinstance, various features discussed below in relation to one or more ofthe illustrated embodiments may be incorporated into any of theabove-described aspects of the present disclosure alone or in anycombination. The brief summary presented above is intended only tofamiliarize the reader with certain aspects and contexts of embodimentsof the present disclosure without limitation to the claimed subjectmatter.

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the embodimentsdiscussed herein may be realized by reference to the remaining portionsof the specification and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an enclosure with a hazard detection system,according to some embodiments;

FIG. 2 shows an illustrative block diagram of a hazard detection systembeing used in an illustrative enclosure, according to some embodiments;

FIGS. 3A and 3B shows illustrative block diagrams a thermostat,according to some embodiments;

FIG. 4 shows an illustrative flowchart of a process, according to anembodiment;

FIG. 5 shows an illustrative block diagram of location verificationtools, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows illustrative block diagram of a thermostat having a linepower detector, according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 7 shows illustrative flowchart of another process, according to anembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation,numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the various embodiments. Those of ordinary skill in theart will realize that these various embodiments are illustrative onlyand are not intended to be limiting in any way. Other embodiments willreadily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit ofthis disclosure.

In addition, for clarity purposes, not all of the routine features ofthe embodiments described herein are shown or described. One of ordinaryskill in the art would readily appreciate that in the development of anysuch actual embodiment, numerous embodiment-specific decisions may berequired to achieve specific design objectives. These design objectiveswill vary from one embodiment to another and from one developer toanother. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effortmight be complex and time-consuming but would nevertheless be a routineengineering undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art havingthe benefit of this disclosure.

Various Wi-Fi enabled devices according to embodiments discussed hereinare described in the context of being used in a residential home, suchas a single-family residential home, however it should be appreciatethat the scope of the present teachings is not so limited. Moregenerally, Wi-Fi enabled devices are applicable to a wide variety ofenclosures such as, for example, duplexes, townhomes, multi-unitapartment buildings, hotels, retail stores, office buildings, andindustrial buildings. Further, it is understood that while the termsuser, customer, installer, homeowner, occupant, guest, tenant, landlord,repair person, and the like may be used to refer to the person orpersons who are interacting with the Wi-Fi enabled device in the contextof one or more scenarios described herein, these references are by nomeans to be considered as limiting the scope of the present teachingswith respect to the person or persons who are performing such actions.

The support and enforcement of a wireless regulatory infrastructure insoftware may include two opposing forces. On one side, the wirelessregulations strive to make products as customized and as narrowly-scopedas possible for the marketplace into which they are sold and to preventthe end customer from changing that customization in a way that wouldmake the device non-compliant. One the other side, manufacturersendeavor to have the minimum number of custom SKUs to build, track andsupport as well as the ability to quickly and easily allocate inventoryto the appropriate sales channels. Moreover, manufactures desire tominimize cost and complexity by eliminating unnecessary hardware.Embodiments discussed herein accommodate both regulatory andmanufacturer concerns by selectively enabling and disabling wirelesscommunication channels, particularly with respect to Wi-Ficommunications, based on a location.

Wi-Fi typically operates at frequencies in the 2.4, 3.7, 5 and 60 GHzbands with channel widths of 20, 40, 80 and 160 MHz, worldwide withvarious restrictions on the allowed channels and transmit power levelswithin those bands across various countries, regions and regulatoryagencies. Wi-Fi is typically associated with the 802.11 protocol. Thelegacy approach to wireless compliance for Wi-Fi is to provision orcustomize the device at the time of manufacture for precisely theregulatory requirements for the country into which the product is to besold. For fixed products such as Wi-Fi access points or desktopcomputers, this poses few challenges. However, with the explosion ofWi-Fi enabled mobile devices such a phones, media players and laptops,this simplistic approach breaks down as these devices must remain incompliance as they move from region to region and country to country.

Consequently, world-ready Wi-Fi-based products are typically designedand built up front with an eye towards complying with these myriad ofregional regulatory requirements without explicit provisioning orcustomization at the time of manufacture. The Wi-Fi community hasaddressed this challenge in terms of implementation and standard. Interms of implementation, modem Wi-Fi devices are typically provisionedand manufactured with the worldwide regulatory domain. This encompassesthe intersection of all worldwide regulatory requirements and is themost restrictive possible. This ensures that, by default, no matterwhere such a Wi-Fi device operates, it is guaranteed to be in complianceby default.

In terms of both implementation and standard, Wi-Fi devices can relaxthis restrictive worldwide regulatory domain to enable additionalchannels and/or greater transmit power. Implementation-wise, thisrelaxation is achieved through both external and intrinsic detection.External detection is achieved through complimentary wirelesstechnologies such as 3GSM cellular. Here, a mobile country code (MCC)obtained from the cellular network is used to hint the regulatory domainand, by extension, relax the Wi-Fi regulatory restrictions. Intrinsicdetection is achieved through Wi-Fi passive scanning. When Wi-Fi passivescans are conducted, all Wi-Fi channels are monitored, including thosenot allowed in the worldwide regulatory domain. However, if valid 802.11traffic is detected and decoded on those non-worldwide channels, theWi-Fi station assumes it is now operating in a regulatory domain inwhich those channels are allowed and enables them for use. This isproblematic when non-regulatory Wi-Fi traffic is being used to trick theWi-Fi device into thinking it can use the restricted channel(s).

Standards-based detection is achieved through Wi-Fi 802.11d. 802.11dcompliant access points broadcast a two-character ISO-3166-1 regulatorydomain country code in the Wi-Fi beacon in addition to other channel andpower information. The Wi-Fi station may then use this beacon-gatheredinformation to relax the regulatory restrictions, either implicitlybased on the country code or explicitly based on the channel and powerinformation.

Using the implementation and standards based detection, manufacturerscan deploy Wi-Fi enabled products that operate in accordance with aworldwide regulatory domain. Although many Wi-Fi enabled products havethe ability to operate its Wi-Fi circuitry in accordance with regulatoryguidelines that they believe to be the correct guidelines, such devicesdo not have possess the ability to independently verify their locationto ensure they are operating in compliance. There is an implicit trustthat ordinary users, for example, cannot easily tamper with the network.As a consequence, there is little motivating need for that independentverification. When such devices typically rely on user inputs orself-determination using one or more wireless communications (e.g.,monitoring Wi-Fi traffic, relying on GSM communications, or using otherWi-Fi communications) they can be susceptible to non-compliant Wi-Fiusage.

This disclosure relates to systems and methods for verifying that adevice is using its Wi-Fi circuitry in compliance with the regulationsgoverning the location in which the device is located. Embodimentsdiscussed herein can verify the location using location verificationtools that evaluate locally ascertainable factors that contribute to aprobability determination of the device's location. Locallyascertainable factors include information that can be gleaned from thesurroundings of the device. The surroundings or environment in which thedevice resides may provide clues as to whether the device is located ina particular regulatory domain. Examples of such factors includecharacteristics (e.g., voltage and frequency) of line power being usedto power the device, audio information, video information, air qualityinformation, weather information, lighting information, and othersuitable information that may provide clues as to the device's location.The locally ascertainable factors are not meant to be definitiveearmarks of the device's location, but indicia that assist the locationverification tool in corroborating the accuracy of the regulatory domaininitially selected for the device.

Other location information may be obtained by using tools that aredesigned to provide definitive location information. Such tools mayinclude global position systems (GPS), cellular networks, and InternetProtocol geolocation systems. These tools may provide relativelyaccurate location information, but require additional hardware andsoftware combinations that may not be practical for use in devicescontemplated for use in embodiments discussed herein.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary enclosure 100 using hazarddetection system 105, remote hazard detection system 107, thermostat110, remote thermostat 112, heating, cooling, and ventilation (HVAC)system 120, router 122, computer 124, and central panel 130 inaccordance with some embodiments. Enclosure 100 can be, for example, asingle-family dwelling, a duplex, an apartment within an apartmentbuilding, a warehouse, or a commercial structure such as an office orretail store. Hazard detection system 105 can be battery powered, linepowered, or line powered with a battery backup. Hazard detection system105 can include one or more processors, multiple sensors, non-volatilestorage, and other circuitry to provide desired safety monitoring anduser interface features. Some user interface features may only beavailable in line-powered embodiments due to physical limitations andpower constraints. In addition, some features common to both line- andbattery-powered embodiments may be implemented differently. Hazarddetection system 105 can include the following components: low powerwireless personal area network (6LoWPAN) circuitry, a system processor,a safety processor, non-volatile memory (e.g., Flash), WiFi circuitry,an ambient light sensor (ALS), a smoke sensor, a carbon monoxide (CO)sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a noise sensor, one ormore ultrasonic sensors, a passive infra-red (PIR) sensor, a speaker,one or more light emitting diodes (LED's), and an alarm buzzer.

Hazard detection system 105 can monitor environmental conditionsassociated with enclosure 100 and alarm occupants when an environmentalcondition exceeds a predetermined threshold. The monitored conditionscan include, for example, smoke, heat, humidity, carbon monoxide, radon,methane and other gasses. In addition to monitoring the safety of theenvironment, hazard detection system 105 can provide several userinterface features not found in conventional alarm systems. These userinterface features can include, for example, vocal alarms, voice setupinstructions, cloud communications (e.g. push monitored data to thecloud, or push notifications to a mobile telephone, or receive softwareupdates from the cloud), device-to-device communications (e.g.,communicate with other hazard detection systems in the enclosure),visual safety indicators (e.g., display of a green light indicates it issafe and display of a red light indicates danger), tactile andnon-tactile input command processing, and software updates.

Hazard detection system 105 can monitor other conditions that notnecessarily tied to hazards, per se, but can be configured to perform asecurity role. In the security role, system 105 may monitor occupancy(using a motion detector), ambient light, sound, remote conditionsprovided by remote sensors (door sensors, window sensors, and/or motionsensors). In some embodiments, system 105 can perform both hazard safetyand security roles, and in other embodiments, system 105 may perform oneof a hazard safety role and a security role.

Hazard detection system 105 can implement multi-criteria state machinesaccording to various embodiments described herein to provide advancedhazard detection and advanced user interface features such aspre-alarms. In addition, the multi-criteria state machines can managealarming states and pre-alarming states and can include one or moresensor state machines that can control the alarming states and one ormore system state machines that control the pre-alarming states. Eachstate machine can transition among any one of its states based on sensordata values, hush events, and transition conditions. The transitionconditions can define how a state machine transitions from one state toanother, and ultimately, how hazard detection system 105 operates.Hazard detection system 105 can use a dual processor arrangement toexecute the multi-criteria state machines according to variousembodiments. The dual processor arrangement may enable hazard detectionsystem 105 to manage the alarming and pre-alarming states in a mannerthat uses minimal power while simultaneously providing failsafe hazarddetection and alarming functionalities. Additional details of thevarious embodiments of hazard detection system 105 are discussed below.

Enclosure 100 can include any number of hazard detection systems. Forexample, as shown, hazard detection system 107 is another hazarddetection system, which may be similar to system 105. In one embodiment,both systems 105 and 107 can be battery powered systems. In anotherembodiment, system 105 may be line powered, and system 107 may bebattery powered. Moreover, a hazard detection system can be installedoutside of enclosure 100.

Thermostat 110 can be one of several thermostats that may control HVACsystem 120. Thermostat 110 can be referred to as the “primary”thermostat because it may be electrically connected to actuate all orpart of an HVAC system, by virtue of an electrical connection to HVACcontrol wires (e.g. W, G, Y, etc.) leading to HVAC system 120.Thermostat 110 can include one or more sensors to gather data from theenvironment associated with enclosure 100. For example, a sensor may beused to detect occupancy, temperature, light and other environmentalconditions within enclosure 100. In addition, thermostat 110 can includecommunications circuitry that enables communications according to any ofthe 801.11 and 802.15.4 communication standards. Remote thermostat 112can be referred to as an “auxiliary” thermostat because it may not beelectrically connected to actuate HVAC system 120, but it too mayinclude one or more sensors to gather data from the environmentassociated with enclosure 100 and can transmit data to thermostat 110via a wired or wireless link. For example, thermostat 112 can wirelesslycommunicate with and cooperates with thermostat 110 for improved controlof HVAC system 120. Thermostat 112 can provide additional temperaturedata indicative of its location within enclosure 100, provide additionaloccupancy information, or provide another user interface for the user(e.g., to adjust a temperature setpoint).

Hazard detection systems 105 and 107 can communicate with thermostat 110or thermostat 112 via a wired or wireless link. For example, hazarddetection system 105 can wirelessly transmit its monitored data (e.g.,temperature and occupancy detection data) to thermostat 110 so that itis provided with additional data to make better informed decisions incontrolling HVAC system 120. Moreover, in some embodiments, data may betransmitted from one or more of thermostats 110 and 112 to one or moreof hazard detections systems 105 and 107 via a wired or wireless link(e.g., the fabric network).

Central panel 130 can be part of a security system or other mastercontrol system of enclosure 100. For example, central panel 130 may be asecurity system that may monitor windows and doors for break-ins, andmonitor data provided by motion sensors. In some embodiments, centralpanel 130 can also communicate with one or more of thermostats 110 and112 and hazard detection systems 105 and 107. Central panel 130 mayperform these communications via wired link, wireless link (e.g., thefabric network), or a combination thereof. For example, if smoke isdetected by hazard detection system 105, central panel 130 can bealerted to the presence of smoke and make the appropriate notification,such as displaying an indicator that a particular zone within enclosure100 is experiencing a hazard condition.

Enclosure 100 may further include a private network accessible bothwirelessly and through wired connections and may also be referred to asa Local Area Network or LAN. Network devices on the private network caninclude hazard detection systems 105 and 107, thermostats 110 and 112,computer 124, and central panel 130. In one embodiment, the privatenetwork is implemented using router 122, which can provide routing,wireless access point functionality, firewall and multiple wiredconnection ports for connecting to various wired network devices, suchas computer 124. Wireless communications between router 122 andnetworked devices can be performed using an 802.11 protocol. Router 122can further provide network devices access to a public network, such asthe Internet or the Cloud, through a cable-modem, DSL modem and anInternet service provider or provider of other public network services.Public networks like the Internet are sometimes referred to as aWide-Area Network or WAN.

Access to the Internet, for example, may enable networked devices suchas system 105 or thermostat 110 to communicate with a device or serverremote to enclosure 100. The remote server or remote device can host anaccount management program that manages various networked devicescontained within enclosure 100. For example, in the context of hazarddetection systems according to embodiments discussed herein, system 105can periodically upload data to the remote server via router 122. Inaddition, if a hazard event is detected, the remote server or remotedevice can be notified of the event after system 105 communicates thenotice via router 122. Similarly, system 105 can receive data (e.g.,commands or software updates) from the account management program viarouter 122.

FIG. 2 shows an illustrative block diagram of Wi-Fi enabled device 205being used in an illustrative enclosure 200 in accordance with someembodiments. FIG. 2 also shows optional router 222. Wi-Fi enabled device205 can be similar to any one of hazard detection systems 105 and 107 orthermostats 110 of FIG. 1, enclosure 200 can be similar to enclosure 100in FIG. 1, and router 222 can be similar to router 122 in FIG. 1. Device205 can include several components, including control unit 210, wirelesscommunications circuitry 212 and antenna, location verification module214, user interface module 215, memory 216 (e.g., volatile and/ornon-volatile memory), sensors 220, and power source 240.

Control unit 210 can include one or more processors that control theoperation of device 205. For example, control unit 210 can directwireless data traffic for wireless communications circuit 212, accessmemory 216, and execute instructions in modules 215 and 216. As anotherexample, control unit 210 can monitor data acquired by one or moresensors 220 and perform any appropriate actions in response thereto

Wireless communications circuitry 212 can be, for example, a Wi-Fimodule capable of communicating according to any of the 802.11protocols. As another example, circuitry 212 can be a relatively lowpower Wireless Personal Area Network (6LoWPAN) module or a ZigBee modulecapable of communicating according to a 802.15.4 protocol. Circuitry 212may include channel selection circuitry 213 that selects which channelsmay be used to conduct wireless communications. Channel selectioncircuitry 213 may enforce regulatory compliance by only enabling thosechannels that are permitted for use in the device's location.

Memory 216 can include volatile memory (e.g., RAM, SDRAM, DRAM) and/orany suitable permanent memory storage such as, for example, NAND Flash,a hard disk drive, NOR, ROM, or phase change memory. In one embodiment,memory 216 can store wireless regulatory database 217. Wirelessregulatory database 217 can include wireless compliance information forall of the countries in the world that have promulgated wirelessregulation. For example, database 217 can include the Linux wirelessregulatory database. Records in the Linux wireless regulatory databasemay be organized as follows:

country <Country>: <Rule>

where <Rule> is:

(<Band Start>-<Band End>@<Band Width>), (<Antenna Gainmax>, <EIRPmax>),<Flags> and where:

<Country> is a two byte alphanumeric identifier used to denote theregulatory domain associated;

<Band Start> is an unsigned integer representing the start of thechannel/frequency band, in MHz;

<Band End> is an unsigned integer representing the end of thechannel/frequency band, in MHz;

<Band Width> is an unsigned integer representing the maximum channelbandwidth, in MHz, for this rule;

<Antenna Gainmax> is an unsigned integer representing the maximumallowed antenna gain, in dBi×100;

<EIRPmax> is an unsigned integer representing the maximum equivalentisotropically radiated power, in dBm×100; and

<Flags> are one or more enumerated strings representing additionalcapabilities added or subtracted to the channel/frequency band. Table 1below shows illustrative Flags.

TABLE 1 Flag Description NO-OFDM OFDM modulation not allowed. NO-CCK CCKmodulation not allowed. NO-INDOOR Indoor operation not allowed.NO-OUTDOOR Outdoor operation not allowed. DFS Dynamic FrequencySelection (DFS) is required. PTP-ONLY May only be used forpoint-to-point links. PTMP-ONLY May only be used for point-to-multipointlinks. PASSIVE- Passive scanning is required (no active (probe) scansSCAN are allowed). NO-IBSS Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS) (ad-hoc)networks are not allowed.

Drivers may then use database 217 to perform lookups using a tuple ofregulatory domain (i.e. country), channel center frequency and channelbandwidth to first determine whether or not that channel and bandwidthare allowed under the specified regulatory domain and, second, what thepower restrictions are.

Sensors 220 can be monitored and controlled by control unit 210. Avariety of sensors may be embodied by sensors 220, including, but notlimited to a smoke sensor, a heat sensor, a relative humidity sensor, anambient light sensor, a motion sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an airquality monitoring sensor, a push button sensor, a user interfacesensor, a microphone, a video camera, a HD radio tuner, an FM radiotuner, a TV tuner, an HDTV tuner, an atomic clock, a magnetometer, aline power voltage detector, a line power frequency detector, a weatherdetector, and a luminescence detector.

Data acquired from one or more sensors 220 can be used by locationverification module 214 to corroborate location of the device. Inaddition, the data acquired by the sensors can be used by control unit210 to control operation of device 205.

Power source 240 can supply power to enable operation of device 205 andcan include any suitable source of energy. Embodiments discussed hereincan include AC line powered, battery powered, a combination of AC linepowered with a battery backup, and externally supplied DC power (e.g.,USB supplied power). Embodiments that use AC line power, AC line powerwith battery backup, or externally supplied DC power may be subject todifferent power conservation constraints than battery only embodiments.In embodiments where device 205 is a thermostat, power may be derivedfrom HVAC wires are coupled to a backplate

Referring to FIG. 3A, a schematic block diagram provides an overview ofsome components inside a thermostat in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention. Thermostat 308 is similar to thermostat 112 inFIG. 1 except that thermostat 308 also illustrates and highlightsselected internal components including a Wi-Fi module 312 and antenna, ahead unit processor 314 with associated memory 315, a backplateprocessor 316 with associated memory, and sensors 322 (e.g.,temperature, humidity, motion, ambient light, proximity, and othersdescribed herein). In one embodiment, head unit processor 314 can be aTexas Instruments AM3703 Sitara ARM microprocessor while backplateprocessor 316, which may be more specifically referenced to as a“microcontroller”, can be a Texas Instruments MSP430F microcontroller.

For some embodiments, the backplate processor 316 is a very low-powerdevice that, while having some computational capabilities, issubstantially less powerful than the head unit processor 314. Thebackplate processor 316 is coupled to, and responsible for polling on aregular basis, most or all of the sensors 322 including the temperatureand humidity sensors, motion sensors, ambient light sensors, andproximity sensors. For sensors 322 that may not be located on thebackplate hardware itself but rather are located in the head unit,ribbon cables or other electrical connections between the head unit andbackplate are provided for this purpose. Notably, there may be othersensors (not shown) for which the head unit processor 314 isresponsible, with one example being a ring rotation sensor that sensesthe user rotation of an outer ring of the thermostat. Each of the headunit processor 314 and backplate processor 316 is capable of enteringinto a “sleep” state, and then “waking up” to perform various tasks.

The backplate processor 316, which in some embodiments will have alow-power sleep state that corresponds simply to a lower clock speed,generally enters into and out of its sleep mode substantially more oftenthan does the more powerful head unit processor 314. The backplateprocessor 316 is capable of waking up the head unit processor 314 fromits sleep state. For one preferred embodiment directed to optimalbattery conservation, the head unit processor 314 is allowed to sleepwhen its operations are not being called for, while the backplateprocessor 316 performs polling of the sensors 322 on an ongoing basis,maintaining the sensor results in memory 317. The backplate processor316 will wake up the head unit processor 314 in the event that (i) thesensor data indicates that an HVAC operation may be called for, such asif the current temperature goes below a currently active heatingsetpoint, or (ii) the memory 317 gets full and the sensor data needs tobe transferred up to the head unit processor 314 for storage in thememory 315. The sensor data can then be pushed up to the cloud server(thermostat management server) during a subsequent active communicationsession between the cloud server and the head unit processor 314.

In the case of Wi-Fi module 312, one embodiment may be implemented usingMurata Wireless Solutions LBWA19XSLZ module, which is based on the TexasInstruments WL1270 chipset supporting the 802.11b/g/n WLAN standard.Embodiments of the present invention configure and program Wi-Fi module312 to allow thermostat 308 to enter into a low power or “sleep” mode toconserve energy until one or several events occurs. For example, in someembodiments the Wi-Fi module 312 may leave this low power mode when auser physically operates thermostat 308, which in turn may also causeactivation of both head-unit processor 314 and backplate processor 316for controlling functions in head-unit and backplate portions ofthermostat 110.

It is also possible for Wi-Fi module 312 to wake from a low power modeat regular intervals in response to a beacon from wireless access point372. To conserve energy, Wi-Fi module 312 may briefly leave the lowpower mode to acknowledge the beacon as dictated by the appropriatewireless standard and then return to a low power mode without activatingthe processors or other components of thermostat 308 in FIG. 3A. In analternative embodiment, Wi-Fi module 312 may also respond to the beaconby awaking briefly and then activating backplate processor 316, headunit processor 314, or other portions of thermostat 308 to gather datathrough sensors 322 and store the results in a data log 326 with a timestamp, event type and corresponding data listed for future reference. Inaccordance with one embodiment, backplate processor 316 may collect datain data log 326 and store in memory 320 for a period of time or untilthe log reaches a maximum predetermined size. At that point, thebackplate processor 316 may wake head unit processor 314 to coordinatean upload of the data log 326 stored in memory 320 over a publicnetwork, such as the Internet, to cloud-based management server 516.Uploading data log 326 less frequently saves time and energy associatedwith more frequent transmission of individual records or log entries.

In yet another embodiment, Wi-Fi module 312 may selectively filter anincoming data packet to determine if the header is merely anacknowledgement packet (i.e., a keep-alive packet) or contains a payloadthat needs further processing. If the packet contains only a header andno payload, the Wi-Fi module 312 may be configured to either ignore thepacket or send a return acknowledgement to the thermostat managementsystem or other source of the packet received.

In further embodiments, Wi-Fi module 312 may be used to establishmultiple communication channels between thermostat 112 and a cloud-basedmanagement server as will be described and illustrated later in thisdisclosure. As previously described, thermostat 112 uses multiplecommunication channels to receive different types of data classifiedwith different levels of priority. In one embodiment, Wi-Fi module 312may be programmed to use one or more filters and a wake-on-LAN featureto then selectively ignore or discard data arriving over one or more ofthese communication channels. For example, low-priority data arrivingover a port on Wi-Fi module 312 may be discarded by disabling thecorresponding wake-on-LAN feature associated with the port. This allowsthe communication channel to continue to operate yet conserves batterypower by discarding or ignoring the low-priority packets.

Operation of the microprocessors 314, 316, Wi-Fi module 312, and otherelectronics may be powered by a rechargeable battery (not shown) locatedwithin the thermostat 110. In some embodiments, the battery is rechargeddirectly using 24 VAC power off a “C” wire drawn from the HVAC system oran AC-DC transformer coupled directly into the thermostat 110.Alternatively, one or more different types of energy harvesting may alsobe used to recharge the internal battery if these direct methods are notavailable as described, for example, in U.S. Ser. No. 13/034,678, supra,and U.S. Ser. No. 13/267,871, supra. Embodiments of the presentinvention communicate and operate the thermostat 110 in a manner thatpromotes efficient use of the battery while also keeping the thermostatoperating at a high level of performance and responsiveness controllingthe HVAC system. Some embodiments may use the battery-level charge andthe priority or relative importance of a communication to determine whena thermostat management system located on a public network such as theInternet may communicate with the thermostat 110. Further details on thecommunication methods and system used in accordance with theseembodiments are described in detail later herein.

Turning now to power harvesting methods and systems, FIG. 3B is a blockdiagram of some circuitry of a thermostat, according to someembodiments. Circuitry 300, according to some embodiments, is abackplate of a thermostat. A number of HVAC wires can be attached usingHVAC terminals 372. One example of which is the W1 terminal 374. Eachterminal is used to control an HVAC function. According to someembodiments, each of the wires from the terminals W1, W2, Y1, Y2, G,O/B, AUX and E is connected to separate isolated FET drives 370. Thecommon HVAC functions for each of the terminals are: W1 and W2 heating;Y1 and Y2 for cooling; G for fan; O/B for heatpumps; and E for emergencyheat. Note that although the circuitry 300 is able control 8 functionsusing the isolated FET drives 370, according to some embodiments, otherfunctions, or fewer functions can be controlled. For example circuitryfor a more simply equipped HVAC system may only have a single heating(W), and single cooling (Y) and a fan (G), in which case there wouldonly be three isolated FET drives 370. According to a preferredembodiment, 5 FET drives 370 are provided, namely heating (W), cooling(Y), fan (G), auxiliary (AUX) and compressor direction (O/B). Not shownare the circuit returns such as RH (return for heat) and RC (return forcooling). According to some embodiments the thermostat can control ahumidifier and/or de-humidifier.

The HVAC functions are controlled by the HVAC control general purposeinput/outputs (GPIOs) 322 within microcontroller (MCU) 320. MCU 320 is ageneral purpose microcontroller such as the MSP430 16-bit ultra-lowpower MCU available from Texas Instruments. MCU 320 communicates withthe head unit via Head Unit Interface 340. The head unit together withthe backplate make up the thermostat. The head unit has user interfacecapability such that it can display information to a user via an LCDdisplay and receive input from a user via buttons and/or touch screeninput devices. According to some embodiments, the head unit has networkcapabilities for communication to other devices either locally or overthe internet. Through such network capability, for example, thethermostat can send information and receive commands and setting from acomputer located elsewhere inside or outside of the enclosure. The MCUdetects whether the head unit is attached to the backplate via head unitdetect 338.

Clock 342 provides a low frequency clock signal to MCU 320, for example32.768 kHz. According to some embodiments there are two crystaloscillators, one for high frequency such as 16 MHz and one for the lowerfrequency. Power for MCU 320 is supplied at power input 344 at 3.0 V.Circuitry 336 provides wiring detection, battery measurement, and buckinput measurement. A temperature sensor 330 is provided, and accordingto some embodiments and a humidity sensor 332 are provided. According tosome embodiments, one or more other sensors 334 are provided such as:pressure, proximity (e.g. using infrared), ambient light, andpyroelectric infrared (PIR).

Power circuitry 350 is provided to supply power. According to someembodiments, when the thermostat is first turned on with insufficientbattery power, a bootstrap power system is provided. A high voltage lowdropout voltage regulator (LDO) 380 provides 3.0 volts of power for thebootstrap of the MCU 320. The bootstrap function can be disabled underMCU control but according to some embodiments the bootstrap function isleft enabled to provide a “safety net” if the head unit supply vanishesfor any reason. For example, if the head-unit includes the re-chargeablebattery 384 and is removed unexpectedly, the power would be lost and thebootstrap function would operate. The input to this Bootstrap LDO 380 isprovided by connectors and circuitry 368 that automatically selectspower from common 362 (highest priority), cool 366 (lower priority); orheat (lowest priority) 364.

In normal operation, a 3.0 volt primary LDO 382 powers the backplatecircuitry and itself is powered by VCC Main. According to someembodiments, high voltage buck 360 is provided as a second supply in thebackplate. The input to this supply is the circuitry 368. According tosome embodiments, the high voltage buck 380 can supply a maximum of 100mA at 4.5v. According to some embodiments, the VCC main and the PrimaryLDO 382 can be powered by a rechargeable battery in cases where there isno alternative power source (such as the high voltage buck or USB power,for example).

FIG. 4 shows an illustrative flowchart of steps that may be executed inprocess 400, according to an embodiment. Starting with step 410, adevice may make an initial determination on how to configure wirelesscommunication circuitry to operate according to location based wirelessregulations. The device may make an initial compliance determination onhow to configure itself using any one of variety of ways. For example,in one embodiment, a user may interact with a user interface to providethe device with an indication of the user's location. Based in theuser's input, the device may refer to a compliance database (e.g.,similar to the compliance database in FIG. 2) to determine how toconfigure its one or more wireless communication circuits to comply withthe regulations of the user indicated location. As another example, thedevice may scan all the channels for one or more of the wirelessprotocols to determine how to initially configure its wirelesscommunication circuit(s) as discussed above.

At step 420, the device can verify whether its initial compliancedetermination is reasonably accurate by validating the location of thedevice using one or more location verification tools. For example, thedevice can access one or more of the location verification tools shownin and described with respect to FIG. 5 to validate the initialcompliance determination. Then, at step 430, a determination is madewhether the initial compliance determination is validated. The processby which the determination is made may involve relatively simple binarydecision-making process or a more elaborate multiple factor decisionmaking process. For example, in a binary decision making process, thedevice may cross check the results of one or more of the locationverification tools with the initial configuration to ensure that thereis no concrete evidence that the wrong regulatory scheme was selected.For example, if the initial regulatory scheme is for region X, but oneof the location verification tools concretely confirms that the deviceis not situated in region X, the device can determine that the initiallyselected regulatory scheme for the device is not correct. A multiplefactor decision-making process may take into account the initialdetermination and the results of one or more location verificationtools. Since many of the location verification tools may not provideconcrete evidence of location, but rather, an indication of potentiallocation, the results may be used in a statistical manner to arrive at aprobability of whether the initial compliance determination is correct.The factors obtained from various location tools may be weighteddifferently to account for variations in their ability to provide anindication of location.

If the determination at step 430 is YES, the device may continue tooperate its wireless communications circuitry according to the initialdetermination, as shown by step 435. If the determination at step 430 isNO, the device may re-configure its wireless communications circuitry tooperate according to a different regulatory compliance scheme, as shownby step 440. For example, the new regulatory compliance scheme may bebased on the location ascertained by one or more of the locationverification tools.

FIG. 5 shows an illustrative collection of location verification toolsthat may be used by a device, according to an embodiment. Each tool willnow be discussed. Line power detector 502 may be able to detect the linevoltage and/or frequency of the line power being provided to the device.As defined herein, line power is the power supplied by a utilitycompany. The line power is transmitted as alternating current (AC) powerover a distribution network. The distribution network typically includesregional and local distribution. Local distribution may be responsiblefor providing line power for commercial and residential uses. In most ofthe world, local power ranges between 100-240 volts and operates at afrequency of 50 Hz or 60 Hz. Each country specifies the particularvoltage and frequency of its line power. In the United States, forexample, line power is normally provided at 120 volts at 60 Hz. In mostof Europe, line power is normally provided at 240 volts at 50 Hz. Sincethe line voltage and frequency is an indicator of geographic location,line power detector 502 can be used to provide a clue as to where thedevice may be located.

FIG. 6 shows an illustrative schematic diagram of a device 600 usingdifferent component setups for line power detection, according tovarious embodiments. As shown, device 600 can include backplate 610 andhead unit 620. Backplate 610 and head unit 620 may be similar to thebackplate and head unit of FIG. 3A. Backplate 610 may be coupled to linepower 602 and can be operative to convert the line power to voltage andpower levels suitable for use by a processor or other componentsassociated with backplate 610 and head unit 620. Backplate 610 may beequipped with any suitable component setup for determining line powercharacteristics. For example, in one embodiment, frequency senseresistor 612 may be used to determine line power characteristics. Sincethe value of resistor 612 is known, the device can extrapolate the linevoltage and frequency by measuring a voltage drop the resistor and/orcurrent through the resistor.

In another embodiment, multi-meter sensor 614 may be incorporated intobackplate 610 to determine line power characteristics. Multi-metersensors are typically embodied as hand-held devices, but the circuitrycontained therein may be included in backplate 610. In yet anotherembodiment, auto-sensor 616 may be used to determine line powercharacteristics. Auto-sensors are commonly used, for example, in powersupplies to detect power characteristics of the line power so that itcan operate appropriately to produce the desired power output.

Referring back to FIG. 5, microphone 504 may be used to monitor audioclues that may provide an indication of the device's location. Forexample, microphone 504 may monitor natural spoken language or otheraudio clues. If microphone 504 detects German, the device may beprovided with a clue that it is potentially located in a German speakingcountry.

Camera 506 may be used to monitor visual clues that may provide anindication of the device's location. For example, camera 506 can monitorthe faces of people and determine a location based thereon. A facialrecognition program may be run to ascertain the identity of themonitored faces, and based on any recognition, it can be inferred wherethe device is located. For example, the facial recognition program mayaccess social media outlets to look for matches and when a match isfound, the information on the social media site may provide locationinformation.

Air quality detector 508 may monitor air quality to identify where thedevice may be located. Certain geographic locations may have distinctair profiles that can be mapped and detected. Weather detector 510 maymonitor weather conditions to identify where the device may be located.Weather patterns may be associated with geographic locations. Thus, ifthe device is initially configured for operation in the United Statesduring the summer, but the weather indicates that the temperature isindicative of winter, this may provide a clue that the device is notlocated where it thinks it is located. Light detector 512 may be used todetect presence of and duration of light. The light may include sunlightor artificial light. If sunlight is being detected, the device mayleverage readings from magnetometer 514 to ascertain a regionalgeographic location based on hours of detected sunlight. Certain formsof artificial light may provide clues regarding the frequency of theline power being supplied to the light. For example, some florescentlights flicker in accordance with the frequency of the line power. Ifthe flicker can be detected, it may be possible to discern the powerline frequency, which as discussed above, provides a clue for location.

Atomic clock 516 may be used to provide an indication of location. FMradio receiver 518 may be used to obtain RDS data that is provided withFM radio broadcast. The RDS data may contain clues that indicate thelocation of the device. Similar such clues may be obtained from HDsignals that can processed by HD radio receiver 520 and verticalblanking interval data (or other data) that may be obtained bytelevision tuner 522.

Internet protocol geolocator 524 may be used to correlate an IP addresswith a geographic location. The IP address may be associated with thedevice or a modem that is connected to the device. When the IP addressis obtained, it may be checked against a database of IP addresses todetermine a location.

FIG. 7 shows an illustrative flowchart of process 700 according to anembodiment. Beginning at step 702, a user-designated selection of alocation is received. The user may use a user interface (e.g., userinterface module 215) of a device to select his or her location. At step704, the device may be initially configured to operate according to afirst set of wireless communication channels based on theuser-designated location. For example, if the user selects the UnitedKingdom, the device may configure its wireless circuitry to comply withthe wireless regulations of the United Kingdom. At step 706, theuser-designated location may be verified by analyzing at least one linepower characteristic. For example, a line power detector (e.g., detector502) may determine a line voltage and/or frequency of line power beingprovided to the device.

If the user-designated location is verified, at step 708, the device maybe enabled to operate according to the first set. For example, if theline power detector detects a line power frequency of 50 Hz, thisindicates that the user-designated location is not invalid. If theuser-designated location is not verified, at step 710, the device may bereconfigured to operate according to a second set of wirelesscommunication channels. For example, if the line power detector a linepower frequency of 60 Hz, this may indicate that the user-designatedlocation is invalid because the United Kingdom operates at 50 Hz, not 60Hz. Based on the 60 Hz line power frequency, the wireless communicationscircuitry may be instructed to operate according to a wirelessregulatory scheme other than that specified for the United Kingdom. Insome embodiments, the user may be prompted to re-enter a user-designatedlocation if the first user-designed location is deemed invalid.

It should be understood that the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 7 are merelyillustrative and the additional steps may be added, steps may beomitted, and the order of the steps may be rearranged.

Any processes described with respect to FIGS. 1-7, as well as any otheraspects of the invention, may each be implemented by software, but mayalso be implemented in hardware, firmware, or any combination ofsoftware, hardware, and firmware. They each may also be embodied asmachine- or computer-readable code recorded on a machine- orcomputer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may be any datastorage device that can store data or instructions that can thereafterbe read by a computer system. Examples of the computer-readable mediummay include, but are not limited to, read-only memory, random-accessmemory, flash memory, CD-ROMs, DVDs, magnetic tape, and optical datastorage devices. The computer-readable medium can also be distributedover network-coupled computer systems so that the computer readable codeis stored and executed in a distributed fashion. For example, thecomputer-readable medium may be communicated from one electronicsubsystem or device to another electronic subsystem or device using anysuitable communications protocol. The computer-readable medium mayembody computer-readable code, instructions, data structures, programmodules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrierwave or other transport mechanism, and may include any informationdelivery media. A modulated data signal may be a signal that has one ormore of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encodeinformation in the signal.

It is to be understood that any or each module or state machinediscussed herein may be provided as a software construct, firmwareconstruct, one or more hardware components, or a combination thereof.For example, any one or more of the state machines or modules may bedescribed in the general context of computer-executable instructions,such as program modules, that may be executed by one or more computersor other devices. Generally, a program module may include one or moreroutines, programs, objects, components, and/or data structures that mayperform one or more particular tasks or that may implement one or moreparticular abstract data types. It is also to be understood that thenumber, configuration, functionality, and interconnection of the modulesor state machines are merely illustrative, and that the number,configuration, functionality, and interconnection of existing modulesmay be modified or omitted, additional modules may be added, and theinterconnection of certain modules may be altered.

Whereas many alterations and modifications of the present invention willno doubt become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art afterhaving read the foregoing description, it is to be understood that theparticular embodiments shown and described by way of illustration are inno way intended to be considered limiting. Therefore, reference to thedetails of the preferred embodiments is not intended to limit theirscope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for enforcing wireless regulatorycompliance for a wirelessly enabled thermostat, the method comprising:receiving a user designated selection of a location of the thermostat;initially configuring the thermostat to operate according to a first setof wireless communication channels based on the user designatedlocation; verifying the user designated location by analyzing at leastone line power characteristic; if the user designated location isverified, enabling the thermostat to operate according to the first set;and if the user designated location is not verified, re-configuring thethermostat to operate according to a second set of wirelesscommunication channels.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the verifyingcomprises: analyzing a frequency of line power that is connected to thethermostat.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the user-designatedlocation is a European country and the device is initially configured tooperate according to the first set, and wherein the analyzed frequencyis 60 Hz, the device is re-configured to operate according to the secondset.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless communicationchannels are Wi-Fi channels and the second set deactivates channels 12and
 13. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one power linecharacteristic comprises voltage and frequency.
 6. The method of claim1, wherein the wireless communication channels are Wi-Fi channels. 7.The method of claim 1, wherein the thermostat is devoid of cellular bandwireless communications and global positioning system wirelesscommunications.
 8. A method for enforcing wireless regulatory compliancefor a home network device, the method comprising: making an initialcompliance determination on how to configure wireless communicationcircuitry to operate according to a location based wireless regulation;verifying whether the initial compliance determination is reasonablyaccurate by validating the location of the device using at least onelocation verification tool; continue operating the wirelesscommunications circuitry according to the initial compliancedetermination in response to a verified initial compliancedetermination; and re-configuring the wireless communications circuitryto operate according to a different regulatory compliance scheme inresponse to a non-verified initial compliance determination.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the making the initial compliancedetermination comprises: scanning wireless traffic to determine whichchannels are being used.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the at leastone verification tool comprises a plurality of location verificationtools, wherein the verifying comprises: applying weighting factors tothe result obtained by each of the location verification tools to obtainweighted factors; and determining a probability, based on the weightedfactors, that the initial compliance determination is reasonablyaccurate.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one locationverification tool comprises a line power detector, wherein at least oneline power characteristic is indicative of location.
 12. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the verifying comprises: using a microphone to obtainaudio data; and analyzing the audio data to determine the location. 13.The method of claim 8, wherein the verifying comprises: using a camerato obtain video data; and analyzing the video data to determine thelocation.
 14. The method of claim 8, wherein the verifying comprises:analyzing at least one of air quality, weather, and sunlight todetermine the location.
 15. The method of claim 8, wherein the verifyingcomprises: analyzing luminescence to determine a frequency of power usedto power fluorescent light, wherein the frequency is indicative oflocation.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the verifying comprises:obtaining an Internet Protocol (IP) address, wherein the IP address isindicative of location.
 17. A thermostat comprising: wirelesscommunications circuitry for communicating according to an 802.11protocol; a compliance database including a listing of a plurality ofcountry specific wireless regulations for the 802.11 protocol; alocation verification module operative to use at least one locationverification tool to assess a location of the thermostat; and a controlunit operative to control the thermostat, the thermostat furtheroperative to: select an initial country specific wireless regulation;use the location verification module to determine a location of thethermostat; determine whether the location invalidates the selectedinitial country specific wireless regulation; configure the wirelesscommunications circuitry to operate according to the selected initialcountry specific wireless regulation in response to a non-invalidateddetermination; and re-configuring the wireless communications circuitryto operate according to a different country specific wireless regulationin response to an invalidated determination.
 18. The thermostat of claim17, wherein the location verification tool comprises a line powerdetector.
 19. The thermostat of claim 17, wherein the locationverification tool is selected from the group consisting of line powerdetector, a microphone, a camera, an air quality detector, a weatherdetector, a television tuner, a HD radio tuner, a FM radio tuner, anatomic clock, a light detector, a magnetometer, and any combinationthereof.